What Will the Cheese Be Eaten With?
The importance of this question cannot be overstated. Everyone's palate is influenced by other food and drink, and when choosing a cheese to complement other food and drink, this fact must be taken into account. That's not to say you shouldn't experiment, but when you do, you'll quickly learn that some flavors cause others to lengthen or shorten.
In general, flavors should lengthen each other, or enhance each other. This makes all the food seem more complex and enjoyable. Some cheeses, like a firm, earthy, Spanish goat cheese, for example, will be a wonderful complement to a meal of lentils and lamb. But what if you served that wedge of Emmental you've had in the refrigerator instead? Close your eyes and imagine the tastes on your tongue.
Even better, buy a small wedge of the aged, Spanish goat cheese, and taste it with your meal. Then taste the Emmenthal with the same food. You'll see that the Spanish goat cheese complements and lengthens the flavors of the lentils and lamb, while the other cuts the flavors off and finishes them too quickly.
What's a cheese monger?
The phrase cheese monger comes from “monger,” or peddler. Successful peddlers were always knowledgeable about their wares, and so are cheese mongers, the people available to assist you at a cheese counter. Rely on them to know their cheeses, work with you on your choices, provide tasting and advice, and to handle the cheese they sell well.
Several chapters of this book are devoted to pairing cheese with other foods, wine, beer, and spirits, but your cheese monger should also be able to help you through this. The important thing is to think about pairing your cheese with other foods and beverages so that all the flavors and aromas complement each other.
